MLSsoccer.com's editors have expertly picked matches all year (Armchair Analyst Matthew Doyle led the pack) and we're not stopping during the MLS Cup Playoffs. Next up: Wednesday night's second-leg clash between the New York Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Semifinals (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes/RDS2).
Disagree with the picks? Make your voice heard in the comment section below!
<strong>Editor</strong> |
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>Comments</strong> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/GregLalas_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Greg Lalas</strong><br><em>Editor-In-Chief</em></p> |
<br><p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-0</strong></p> |
It's money-making time for the big dogs in the Big Apple. Despite this being "noodle time" for Dynamo, Red Bulls' talent will pull through. |
<br><p><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/freedman_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Jonah Freedman</strong><br><em>Managing Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong></p> |
<p>I still don't feel like the ghosts have been put to bed in Jersey. RBNY will come out with urgency, but I expect the Dynamo to match them thanks to Jámison Olave's absence. And then in extra time, Omar Cummings will play the role of D.C.'s Nick DeLeon in an encore of last fall.</p> |
<em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/valencia_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Kristel Valencia</strong><br><em>Editor FutbolMLS.com</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-0</strong> |
We all going to miss Olave, but I still believe in the Red Bulls. Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry are in such momentum that it will be hard for Houston to stop this great duo at RBA. |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Borg_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Simon Borg</strong><br><em>Senior Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong></p> |
<p>You've heard about the impact of the Olave red card suspension before this game and you'll hear about it after. The Dynamo will expose the slow-footed Sekagya-Holgersson center-back pairing.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Doyle_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><br><strong>Matt Doyle</strong><br><em>Armchair Analyst</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>3-2</strong></p> |
<p>This is going to be the most wide-open, entertaining game of the playoffs. Thierry Henry has at least one more great moment left in his boots.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/AndrewWiebe_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Andrew Wiebe</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>3-1</strong></p> |
I know, don't bet against Dominic Kinnear. I'm not. I'm betting on Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry. Both teams will create their fair share of chances, but it is New York that capitalize in the end. |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/JasonSaghini_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Jason Saghini</strong><br><em>Director of Video</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong></p> |
New York showed their talent in the first half of leg one, but grew complacent and played sloppily in the second half. Luckily for them they escaped even, and now grounded, they know they need to punch the card for the full 90 mins in order to advance ... especially without Olave to clean up mistakes in the back. |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Rosano_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Nick Rosano</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong></p> |
<p>It will be a nervy affair for the Red Bulls without Jámison Olave, but they've pulled off plenty of late heroics this season against good teams, and I like them to do it once more and move on to the Eastern Conference Championship.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DiegoPinzon_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Diego Pinzon</strong><br><em>FutbolMLS.com Assoc. Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>3-2</strong></p> |
<p>That's so "Metro." I've said it since the final weeks of the regular season, if Houston make the playoffs they will reach the MLS Cup final again. With all due respect to Dynamo fans, I hope my prediction doesn't come true. I want to see different teams in the final.</p> |
